Just a question that another disscusion provoked. Seems to me the average age is about 45 here. Most modeler’s built as kids. Discovered the opposite sex and cars during their teens and early twentys. Then once they settled down in their early thirtys took up the hobby they loved as a kid. Later on I will tally the ages and post the average.
The point is we need more youth to drop the Nintendo controller and try model building. I can think of several life lessons building models teaches people. So how about it? Share your age and lesson this hobby has brought to your life.
SuppressionFire 38. Jason actually. Lesson? A significant other who doesn’t support your hobby(s) soon becomes a ex. ok… thats more advice. My latest lessons is from Larry the cable guy ‘Get R done’ Accept minor flaws as learning and strive to finish projects knowing the next will turn out better. [Y]
35, basically 36 here, also have 2, 4, 7, 8 and 10 y/o modlers in the house. Trying to get ms 3[blkeye] to build the model I have her for christmas, hasnt happened yet.
I started a kid, did some more mid teens, did some more early twenties, now I have an airbrush really enjoying it
Hmm, shall I average in the younger modelers? Ok criteria:
Must have completed 1 plastic kit by themselves. 1 Basic skill demonstrated. Such as either assembly with cement, paint and or parts clean-up or use of hobby tools such as knives. Snap together ok if 1 other skill mencioned is used.
So you are 35. Im thinking the kids are in accept the wee 1(2yr old) Unless some sort of Tazmainian superbaby who is building 1/700 resin ships w/ photoetch handrails…[:O]
I’d skip the 4y/o as well, I do his parts clean-up and help position his more delicate/fiddly items. As for finished? Better wipe miss 10 as she’s only half way through her first viper (f-16). Both Master 7 & 8 have completed at least one each with cutting/trimming/painting/gluing by themselves. So far miss 2 is yet to handle the knives, sprue cutters yes, painting (and very colourful paint selection) and some gluing.
I’m right at the average of 45, although in less than 2 weeks I will be 46. I’m still on my 1st wife (18 yrs this spring) and I’ve gotten everyone from my household (wife, 2 stepsons, stepdaughter, daughter and 2 sons) to build a model at least once in their life. My wife built an Airfix Anne Boleyn (sp?) figure and a vinyl figure by Horizon of the Dark Phoenix. I was amazed at her painting ability, much better than mine. My daughter entered and won several awards at her first model show, but cheerleading and now boys have occupied her time.
As far as kids and video games, my brother is 4 years younger than me and he never got into model building. We built together, but it was my passion and not his. Conversely, as kids were got an Atari 2600 and he loved that thing more than I did. He used to like going to the arcade as a kid, I would go to but it was his passion and not mine.
Likewise my 12 yr old son was born into the video game era, more than any of the other children he was into games. At first, the Blue’s Clues PC games that helped him learn to read and count. Now he plays his Wii or DSi. None of my other children, except for my now 19 yr old stepson, was into video games (he played Halo on Xbox live until they booted him from the game).
Bill, 50 (pulling up the average), 1st (and only) wife (25 yrs in May), 2 boys 18 & 15.
The 18 yr old tried modeling and didn’t like it. Too impatient for it. He spends half his time on the computer and the other half on his piano.
The 15 yr old tried it and liked it, but has so many other interests (hiking, judo, electronics, rocketry, guitar, wood carving, mechanics), that he doesn’t spend that much time on it. He’s in the middle of putting decals on his Gloster Meteor, so he actually completes models, which is more than I’ve done lately! He has a stash of his own growing in his closet.
My life lesson is don’t push it. Kids are people, too, and have their own interests.
Some friends (fellow modelers) and I were talking the other day and we all agreed that the way you have life spelled out (modeling, girls (or whatever), cars, then later, modelling again) seems to be the way it went for all of us. I got back into it when my wife and I split and this board helped me through it all.
Lessons? Everyone needs a hobby. Get one and allow yourself to forget the rest of the world while you do it. Life will wait.
Be patient.
Just turned 31. Modelling since I was 7. Lessons: Patience and what’s good for you doesn’t have to be good for other people. Won’t repeat lessons by other modellers, though I agree with many of them.
The usual story. Assembled as a kid. Lost interest through my college years. Had a period of interest when my boys were young. Became a football, basketball, baseball coach as my boys came of age and then followed their junior high, high school, and short college sports careers. And around 50 really became a modeler and started doing some nice work. Finescale Modeler has had a lot to do with my interest and improved skills. I have nearly every issue back to #1. My boys have never really become interested in the hobby, but they are still in the girls and college age, so there is still hope. My beautiful wife of 29 years supports my habit (she’s a knitter). She lets me keep a display cabinet with my recent stuff in the study. Although my spray painting facility is in the basement, I have a great building desk in our finished attic. When I built the attic space, I built in a large display cabinet. It currently holds 40-50 models in one side and 800-1000 54mm painted civil war figures in the other. It’s a great space, Home theater, pool table, and my cubbie hole decorated and dedicated to my hobby. Life is good. Rick
Well we need to get our numbers up here to make the sample size useful don’t we!
I’m 35, married, one kid. For me modeling started as a kid and can be blamed/attributed to my grandfather. Spent a lot of time at their place over the summers, and nothing kept me occupied as much as building something either in the woodshop or a plastic model in the kitchen. It’s funny though, he was in the airforce (thus my fascination with WW2 aviation) but the kits I remember building there were ships & cars.
Similar cycle to everyone else I suppose. Built for awhile, into early teens. “Other interests” jumped in, and heavy-duty studies through high school & college. After working for a couple of years, I had an ankle injury that forced me to sit still for about a month - and that was just what I needed to break out the modeling supplies again, been going ever since.
Hmmm, life lessons learned: patience & attention to detail of course… find a hobby that is unlike your workday (graphic designer, working with a computer all day) to reduce your stress… learn a skill, develop it as far as you can & then learn something new.
A curmudgeonly 50 (51 in two weeks) year-old retired US Army Master Sergeant, married to number 4, two kids, both in the Army, one Warrant, one Commisioned O… I have been building since 1965 or 66, I don’t like new kit-prices, and if you ever want to know why I’m the way I am, I got the names & addresses of three ex-wives that I’l gladly give to ya… I don’t like retirement, everyone’s running around out of uniform and ain’t NOBODY in charge… My other interests are intimidating my daughter’s potential boyfriends, lurking in alleys at night, and picking up aluminum cans along the Interstate while yelling at passing cars…
I’m 51 started as a kid,built some Aurura Monster kits,some ships,and planes.Didnt build again till 1982-1993,worked basically in my apartment on a card table in the kitchen,had to drag everything out and put everything away when done,did okay and my stuff was decent,but that got old after awhile plus discovered computers and golf ,didn’t start up again till 1999 when I bought a house with a basement,been learning a lot and trying to improve ever since.
My advice: It’s only a hobby,don’t make it another thing in your life to stress over,always try to improve and try new stuff,but build to your own expectations and abilities,and when it becomes work or frustation,just step back a little.
I’m 42, will be 43 in April. Started out when I was about 10 with Revells Baa Baa Blacksheep Corsair. Built many up until I joined the Air Force. Finished one while I was in, and started a couple but never finished them. In the past couple years have gotten back into it. Finished my first last year in about 20 yrs. Felt good, REAL good!!! Almost have another finished and have several irons in the fire now.
if there is one thing I have learned modeling, as has been said before, build to the best of your abilities and constantly improve the next one. Most of all in doing so, have fun!!![t$t]
